Donald Cameron Macdonald was born on December 7, 1913, in Cranbrook, British Columbia. He attended the Macdonald College School for Teachers and, later, Queen's University at Kingston, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1938, and a Master of ... »
Donald Cameron Macdonald was born on December 7, 1913, in Cranbrook, British Columbia. He attended the Macdonald College School for Teachers and, later, Queen's University at Kingston, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1938, and a Master of Arts degree in 1939. During the Second World War MacDonald held a number of positions. From 1939 to 1940 he was a lecturer for the Association for Anglo American Understanding. From 1940 to 1942 he was a journalist with the Montreal Gazette. From 1942 to 1946 he was in the Royal Canadian Navy. In 1946 he began his work with the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the New Democratic Party. From 1946 to 1949 he was the Education and Information Secretary at the CCF National Office. He held the position of Federal Treasurer and Organizer of the Ontario CCF from 1949 to 1953. He was leader of the Ontario CCF Party from 1953 to 1961. From 1961 to 1970 he was leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party. He was MPP for York South from 1955 to 1982. He was Chairman of the Ontario NDP Caucus from 1982 to 1982 and Federal President of the NDP from 1971 to 1975. From 1986 to 1991 he was Chairman of the Commission on Election Finances. His writings include two books: Government and Politics of Ontario (1975 and revised editions in 1980 and 1985) and The Happy Warrior (1988). He is also author of numerous articles and book review for Canadian newspapers and periodicals. Macdonald passed away in 2008.
